A spectacular and very large 'miniature' painting, 19th century Grand Tour souvenir genre, painted after (aprés) the Masterwork, "The Toilet of Venus" by 1700s French artist François Boucher (1703-1770). Boucher was, of course, one of the most lauded and collected artists of the French Romantic Era. Portrait/painting is very true to the much larger original of which hangs today in the MET, NYC, and was originally painted in 1751. I'm aware of another copy of this painting of about the same age, showing on 1stDibs at $17,000. This one we're offering is actually a finer quality painting, though in miniature. In the 19th century, when mine would have been painted, miniature paintings after famous artworks were a superb and valued souvenir of the Grand Tour travelers. Frame is 12 3/8" x 9 5/8" and 2" in depth, and painting without the frame: 7.87" x 5.31" (20 x 13.5 cm).
Very good to excellent condition, I've had her out of her frame and photographed the backside, and it is flat and wonderful. Visible out of frame with a loupe are 2 very fine tight small hairlines, one at bottom right near the signature, another upper left into the drapery (a paper tape adhered over the top one, visible from back, to prevent any further spread. Really, it is just exceptionally fine. The cover glass is a superb 19th century convex, original. The old frame is wood, very nicely crafted and also very well preserved. Frame is 12 3/8" x 9 5/8" and 2" in depth, and painting without the frame: 7.87" x 5.31" (20 x 13.5 cm).
